An order came down from Bronaugh that because of a culture of racism, firefighters had to remove all decals or stickers, including American flags and military stickers, from their city lockers.

Firefighters ordered to yank Old Glory                                       Chief claims 'racism' provoked ban on locker, helmet decals

Fire Chief Craig Bronaugh disciplined four firefighters in Maywood, Illinois, after they refused to remove patriotic decals from their lockers and helmets

A controversy that involves a new flag for a firehouse in Chicago, patriotic stickers on lockers and even the First Amendment has erupted, and officials now are trying to calm down the situation by saying several firefighters who had been sent home may return to work.
The situation, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune, disturbed operations at the suburban Maywood fire department.
Its chief, Craig Bronaugh Jr., told the newspaper that four firefighters who had been removed from their duties and sent home actually may return.
But officials with the Service Employees International Union Local 73, which represents the suburb’s firefighters, said it had gone too far for only that, and they filed a complaint with the state Labor Relations Board, the Tribune reported.
“It’s about freedom of speech, and there should be nothing wrong with them expressing their patriotism,” spokesman Adam Rosen said.

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